Can-lifter.



No. 761,136. "PATENTED MAY 31,1904.

A. a. BECK.

CAN LIFTER. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 23. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

M'lnasfes Maya-M Patented May 31, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT G. BECK, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

CAN-LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,136, dated May 31, 1904.

Application filed January 23, 1904. Serial No. 190,256. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT G. BECK, a citizen of theUnited States, residing in the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Can-Lifter; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description thereof, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the reference characters marked thereon, which form als a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an implement to be used for bringing within easy and convenient reach articles otherwise beyond access by reason of their elevated position. It is more particularly intended to handle goods in stores resting on shelves and where these latter are arranged at a height which would prevent access to them, except, perhaps, by stepping on a chair or using a step-ladder.

The device is more particularly designed for use on articles being roundthat is, cylindrical-like, for instance, the usual cans containing preserved goods and boxes or packages of similar shape. 1

The invention consists of such an implement arranged and constructed as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the implement in perspective view-and the manner of its use. Fig. 2 is a top view of it, its construction somewhat modified. Fig. 3 is a side View of the preceding figure. Fig. 4 is an elevation of it, show ing also another modification. Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective View of the implement, also modified as to construction.

The implement consists, substantially, of two jaws 1O 10, of elastic material, like sheetsteel or spring-brass, presenting at their upper free ends substantially parallel supporting edges 11 11 and secured with their lower ends to the enlarged upper end or head 12 of a handle 13. These edges are preferably dentated and curved slightly downwardly between their ends, as best shown in Fig. 3.

Horizontally considered, these edges are also curved slightly outwardly between their ends, as best seen in Fig. 2.

In the use and manipulation of this implement advantage is taken of the presence in such cans of an annular projection 14 around their upper edge, which projection may be the overlapping edge of their lid, or it may be the usual reinforced or wired upper edge of the side of the can. In either event it serves for the intended purpose, which is to engagethe can thereat by means of the upper edges of the jaws, which are passed under this projection, after which the can is first slightly lifted to clear the shelf and thence lowered. As stated before, elastic material is used for the jaws, which permits them to be spread, and normally the distance between them is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the smallest can, so that when one of these latter is .in position for support between these jaws their tendency is to bear against the side of the can. The manipulation to effect this engagement maybe in two ways. Where there is sufiicient space above the can, the implement may be raised a little higher, and the jaws are passed down over the can from above, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4:. The upper edges of the jaws will thus be first spread when passing down over projection 14:; but as soon as below this latter they at once close against the side of the can, so that when the implement is now raised they will pass under this projection 14 and catching the same lift the can. Continued, raising of the implement causes, finally, the can to leave the shelf, after which, as soon as clear of this latter, it may be lowered. Where there is no space above the can, the jaws are simply pushed in from the front, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. To

facilitate this, the front ends of these jaws are slightly turned outwardly, as shown at 15, which, together with the rounded surface of the can, induces them to spread apart readily, after which they are simply pushed up on the can until their upper edges arrive under projection 14. As best shown in Fig. 4., these jaws are curved outwardly below their upper edges to admit freely between them the engaged can and prevent restriction of the free action of these edges toward each other to engage the can. This permits also use on diferent-sized cans, and larger sizes within certain limits may readily pass in between these jaws. The upper part of these latter projects also beyond the lower one with reference to the point of their attachment and, as best shown in Fig. 3, the object being to prevent interference by head 12 of handle 13. Each jaw may be made of a single piece of metal and nailed or screwed to Opposite sides of head 12, as shown in Fig. 1, or both may be formed out of one piece connected by an integral union member 16, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, and afterward formed to shape, the connection to head 12 being also by this member 16. In Figs. 2, 3, and 5 this member is in substantially the same planethat is, vertical with jaws 10its connection to head 12 being as shown in Figs. 2 and 3that is, against the flat side of said head. As shown in Fig. 5, this head is between this member and the lower part of the jaws, so that three sides of the head are'surrounded, the connection being against the opposite ends of the head. As shown in Fig. t, this union member is in a horizontal'plane with reference to the jaws andattached against the upper end. of-the' head. Of course the implement may also be used in reverse order-that is, to raise cans to place them in position.

- Having described my invention, I claim as l.' A lifting implement for cans consisting of two jaws of spring metal having dentated they are attached,

2. A lifting implement for cans consisting of two jaws of spring metal having dentated engaging edges at their upper ends and a handle having an enlarged upper end to which these jaws are attached with their lower ends.

3. A lifting implement for cans consisting of a handle, a head at its upper end, jaws of spring metal attached to the sides of this head and projecting upwardly and forwardly therefrom and adapted to engage a can between their upper edges.

4. A lifting implement for cans consisting of a handle, ahead at its upper end, two jaws of spring metal arranged and spaced substantially parallel and a union member connecting them integrally at their lower edges and whereby they are attached to the head of the handle. 5. A lifting implement for cans, consisting of jaws of'spring metal and a handle to which they are attached with a space between them, said jaws being curved outwardly between the points of their attachment and their upper edges which latter are dentated and curved downwardly between their ends.

6. A lifting implement for cans, consisting of a handle and two jaws of spring metal attached'to opposite sides of the upper end thereof, they projecting upwardly and forwardly from such end and with their upper ends par-' ALBERT G. BECK.

engage a Witnesses:

G. SPENGEL, ARTHUR KLINE. 

